Wax composition



Patented May 13, 1941 ES FATE which v wax coMros TIoN No Drawing.

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to improved wax compositions. The invention is particularly concerned with the production of petroleum wax compositions of improved stability which are substantially colorless and which possess no objectionable taste or odor. The improved wax compositions of the present invention comprise a petroleum wax and a small amount of tertiary butyl ether of ortho tertiary butyl para cresol.

It is known in the art to use various inhibiting agents and the like in order to prevent the oxidation and decomposition of particular products. For example, it is known to employ various oxidation inhibitors in order to preserve the quality of high grade lubricating oils. It is also known that to some extent the effectiveness of an oxidation inhibitor when employed in one base medium may be predicted from the results secured when the oxidation inhibitor is employed in another base medium. However, the inhibition of certain products against oxidation and decomposition presents problems which cannot be solved simply by employing an oxidation inhibitor which has been found to be satisfactory when used as an oxidation inhibitor for another substance. Thus,.for example, materials suitable as oxidation inhibitors for lubricating oils and the like, in general, could not be employed as oxidation inhibitors for medicinal oils and highly refined petroleum waxes. fined petroleum waxes against oxidation presents special difilcult'ies, It is very desirable that the inhibited wax be colorless, that it be color stable, and that it be tasteless and odorless, as well as stable against oxidation. This is necessary since these waxes are ofttimes used for the production and preservation of foods and other commodities for human consumption. As a result of these requirements, very few materials are satisfactory for use as wax inhibitors.

We have now found a substance which is particularly desirable and effective for inhibiting petroleum waxes against oxidation. The inhibi' tor of the present invention isjvery effective in the prevention of oxidation of the petroleum waxes and, moreover, is particularly desirable in that it will not impair the quality of the wax.

The inhibition of highly re- Application November 13, 1939, Serial No. 304,119

Our inhibitor is color stable and will not impart any color, taste or odor to the inhibited highly refined wax. This inhibitor is tertiary butyl ether of orthotertiary butyl para cresol and has the following structural formula:

CH3 OHP -cn.'

This material 1S satisfactory for inhibiting any wax composition. It is, however, particularly effective for the production of highly refined waxes which are entirely stable and will not decompose in time or in the presence of heat. Although the inhibitor may be used to inhibit waxes having melting points in the range from about F. and higher as determined by the A. s. 'r. M. method, it is particularly effective in the production of highly refined petroleum waxes having melting points in the range above about F. preferably those having melting points in the range above about F.

The quantity of the inhibitor used will vary widely, depending upon the character of the wax and the service conditions to which it will be subected. In generaL'it has been found that the concentration of the inhibitor should be in the zgntgghfrom abotut g.01'% to 1.0%. It is preferred a e concen ra ion be in the ran 0.02% to 0.05%. ge from about In order to more fully illustrate the invention, the following example is given which should not be construed as limiting the same in any manner whatsoever: 1

EXAMPLE Small amounts of tertiary butyl ether of ortho tertiary butyl para cresol were added to wax es and the resulting blends tested in order to determine the stability of the same. The results of these operations wereas follows:

16 hrs. at 150 C. in the presence of copper catalyst Percent Initial 7 other Saybolt Color after oxidation test color None +25 1 Robinson color not 105 than lli Saybolt).

' 0. 01 +25 17 Robinson color (not less than I -15 Bsybolt).

0. 02 +25 +19 Say oolt. 0.0a +25 +19 Say colt. 0. 06 +25 +21 Say bolt.

It will be noted that 0.02% or more of the inhibltor produced a marked stabilization of, the

1. Improved wax composition comprising a petroleum wax andv a small amount of tertiary butyl ether of ortho tertiary butyl para cresol.

2. A wax composition in accordance with claim 1 in which the amount of tertiary butyl ether of 'ortho tertiary butyl para cresol is in the range from 0.02% to 0.05%. v

. 3. .A wax composition comprising a petroleum wax having a melting point above about 120 F. and from 0.01% to 1% of tertiary butyl ether of ortho tertiary butyl para cresol. 4. A wax'composition characterized by being colorless, odorless, and tasteless and further characterized by being stable against oxidation and color degradation comprising a highly refined petroleum wax having a melting point in the range above about 120 1". and from 0.02% to 0.05% of tertiary butyl ether 0! ortho tertiary butyl paracresol.

JONES I. WASSON. JAMES PROPHET, JR. 

